Device and method for charging a machining device with items

p0001The present invention relates to a device for charging a processing unit with articles. In particular, the processing unit is to be charged with min-least two different types of articles.

p0002The present invention also relates to a method for charging a processing unit with articles. The items in this case comprise at least two different types of articles.

p0003European Patent Application <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0709317A1"><text>EP 0709317 A1</text></patcit> discloses a system, are rearranged in which a conveyor belt products to another conveyor belt. The two conveyor belts are doing to each other at right angles. On the delivery belt Articles shock are transported on-on collision. The items arrive here between two conveyor belts that engage the sides of the articles and make this a rotating element, rearing of these products ultimately passed to the second conveyor belt. The first conveyor and the second conveyor belt are thereby each other at right angles.

p0004International Patent Application <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO9711014A"><text>WO 97/11014</text></patcit> discloses a device for transporting products from the production line to a packaging unit. The device comprises an endless conveyor belt, comprising two belt. On the conveyor belt to transport products are sold. The apparatus comprises a loading station and an unloading station. At the unloading station, the products are removed from the conveyor belt. On the conveyor belt more containers are present, in which the products are also, by which the products are transported. The loading station is also formed of a conveyor belt which is arranged perpendicular to the conveyor belt for the products in the containers. Of the conveyor belt, the products are converted into the individual containers of the conveyor belt. The unloading station is associated with a corresponding means that the products from the conveyor belt with the containers at a further processing unit transferred.

p0005The <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US4560058A"><text>US Patent 4,560,058</text></patcit> discloses a system for handling containers. In the system it is possible to elongate articles such. As to handle tubular containers. The individual items are fed edge to edge with the aid of the gravitational force a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt itself carries a plurality of containers in succession the articles are used in the order to be transported further with the conveyor belt. The transportable articles are thus arranged on the conveyor belt in a row.

p0006Object of the invention is to provide a device with which it is possible to create high-performance products in a predetermined sorting scheme, so a processing unit has the ability to configure from these articles containers with different product types.

p0007The above object is achieved by an apparatus comprising the features of claim 1.

p0008Object of the invention is to provide a method by which it is possible to assemble by high power different types of articles such that the different product types can be assembled into bundles with a processing unit, wherein the containers themselves consist of different types of articles.

p0009The above object is achieved by a method comprising the features of patent claim 13.

p0010Hereinafter, the inventive apparatus and the inventive method will be described.

p0011The term processing unit is to be understood in the broadest sense, a packaging machine that assembles packages from the different articles. It should be noted that the packages each comprising at least two different types of articles. The number of different items offered by a package ultimately depends on a sorting scheme, can a user of the device and select corresponding change in time.

p0012There is a possibility that the processing unit, a grouping table is arranged upstream, on which the different types of articles are arranged according to a predetermined scheme.

p0013The items in this case comprise at least two different types of articles. In the grouping table the different types of items to be arranged according to a predetermined scheme. The scheme is based on the pattern in which the individual items of different types of items to be collected in a container. For this purpose, the device comprises several supply units, each defining a transport direction. Each of the feeding units leads per a product type a conveyor belt to. The conveyor belt itself also defines a transport direction. The conveyor belt is arranged upstream of the grouping table. Further, a control unit is provided, which also controls the plurality of supply units in such a way that the different types of articles can be transferred according to the predetermined scheme to the conveyor belt.

p0014The transport direction of the supply units is disposed to the transport direction of the conveyor belt at a certain angle. It is of particular advantage if the angle at which the conveying directions of the feed units are arranged to the transport direction of the conveyor belt, is the same.

p0015The angle at which the transport direction of the supply units is disposed to the transport direction of the conveyor belt, is advantageously in the range between 45 ° and 90 °. The arrangement of the transporting direction of the feed belt to the transport direction of the conveyor belt is preferably included between 50 ° and 70 °.

p0016The conveyor belt is designed as a pocket-type conveyor or drag chain. The paddle chain has thereby formed individual subjects, in which the individual to be transported article or in the individual measures are inserted from the same articles. For each item, while a container is provided on the conveyor belt. The feeding units consist of a first band and a second band. The first band and the second band lie on both sides of the articles to be separated. Each of the tapes is provided with a motor. It is also conceivable to drive both belts with a motor and produce the coupling means of a mechanical unit. Thus, it is possible that a corresponding number of articles can be converted into the compartments of the conveyor belt by controlled drive of the belts. The control of the individual bands of the feed units is carried out in response to the sorting or packing scheme that ultimately the article must be handed over to the grouping table.

p0017The plurality of feeding units, which consist of a first band and a second band and are arranged on both sides of the products to be separated, can be arranged on a guide. By means of the guide, the first band and the second band are adjusted by the diameter of the article to be transported items.

p0018An advantageous embodiment of the invention, when a transfer chain is provided between the feeding unit and the transport belt. The transfer chain is opposite to one end of the supply unit. At the other end of the transfer chain is located opposite the conveyor belt. The transfer chain is designed such that the transfer chain is aligned with the transport direction of the supply unit to the end at which opposes the transfer chain of feed. At the other end, on the opposite to the feed unit of the transport direction, the feed unit is substantially aligned with the direction of transport of the conveyor belt.

p0019With the inventive method it is possible to charge a processing unit with articles from at least two different types of articles. The term "different types of articles" is the different shape of the article, different packaging, different containers and / or container to understand with different content. According to a first step of the process a sorting scheme is given, with which the different product types to be assigned to the grouping table. For the specification of the sorting or packing scheme, a control unit is provided. Depending on the sorting or packing scheme the products are transferred to a conveyor belt of several supply units. Each of the feeding units includes varietal products. When passing from the feed to the conveyor belt, the articles are handed over a tray of the conveyor belt in each. On the conveyor belt is ultimately made up of different types of articles, according to the predetermined sorting or packing scheme, a number. The range consists of several cycles, each cycle comprising a product of a type.

p0020The number of bars, which differed in terms of the type of article to be supplied to a grouping table. By collating the required for further processing unit sorting and packing scheme is generated from the clocks.

p0021The invention is particularly used for the compilation of containers from beverage bottles application. The bottles are separated from one or more feed units, which are designed as servo drive units supplied. Depending on a sorting scheme is a conveyor belt which is designed as a paddle chain or drag chain, equipped with a predetermined number of products and synchronization of products. The feed units or the transport direction of the feed units is arranged with respect to the length necklace or drag chain at an angle of 60 ° to 90 °. The content of the paddle chain and drag chain can also be described in a register in order to check these for accuracy can. As already described above, then the containers are passed by linear distribution in streets after the predetermined sorting scheme of the packaging machine or the packer.

p0022Exemplary embodiments are intended to illustrate the invention and its advantages with reference to the accompanying figures. The proportions of the individual elements in the figures do not correspond with the real size ratios since simplified some forms and other forms for ease of illustration enlarged in relation to other elements are shown. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt><b>figure 1</b></dt><dd>a schematic structure of an apparatus for feeding a processing unit with articles;</dd><dt><b>figure 2</b></dt><dd>an allocation of a feeder to a conveyor belt, which ultimately processing unit the items in a predetermined order of resale or a grouping table supplies;</dd><dt><b>figure 3</b></dt><dd>An embodiment of the invention in which four supply units are seen provided for supplying articles to a conveyor belt; and</dd><dt><b>figure 4</b></dt><dd>a detailed view of a feeding unit in association with the conveyor belt, wherein between feeder and conveyor belt a handover is arranged chain, the port tied the articles from the feed unit to the transport moves.</dd></dl>

p0023The same or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Further, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals in the individual figures are shown which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the inventive device or method of the invention can be configured and do not constitute a final boundary.

p0024<figref idrefs="f0001"><b>figure 1</b></figref> shows a schematic view of a device for feeding a processing unit 2 with articles 4. In the embodiment described here, the processing unit is arranged upstream of a grouping table on which the different types of articles are arranged according to a predetermined scheme. It is obvious for a skilled person that this is only one possible embodiment and may not be construed as a limitation of the invention. The Article 4 are supplied via multitrack tapes 5 of the device. At the end of the multi-track tapes 5 singulation 7 is provided which generates from the multi-lane flow of Article 4 an in-line power. The individual feeding units 11, 12, 13 and 14 are each supplied in a single-track current and abutting the with Article 4. The outputs of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 are connected to a conveyor belt 20 on which the article 4 are also conveyed in a row. From the conveyor belt 20 Articles 4 arrive at a grouping table 6, of the Article 4 divided according to a preselected sorting scheme in several streets. From the grouping table 6 arrive ultimately compiled in accordance with the organization by Article 4 to the processing unit 2. In general, the processing unit 2 is a packing machine, which puts together the packages of different types of containers from the compiled according to the predetermined sorting scheme Articles 4 each different type. The feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 are also connected to a control unit 30th The control unit 30 controls the feeding units 11, 12, 13 and 14 such that on the conveyor belt 20 a series of articles 4 can be generated which their clocks 32 differ. Each of the bars 32 can contain a different product type. When in<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> illustrated embodiment of the apparatus of the invention terminates the transport direction T._Z the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 perpendicular with respect to the transport direction T._T of the conveyor belt 20th

p0025<figref idrefs="f0002"><b>figure 2</b></figref> shows the arrangement of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 with respect to the conveyor belt 20. Each of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 consists of a first tape 15 and a second band 16. The first band 15 and the second band 16 can be driven in each case via a motor 18th The output of each supply unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 ends at the conveyor belt 20. Thus, it is possible that with appropriate control of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 Articles 4 directly from the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 can be passed to the conveyor 20th The conveyor belt 20 is designed as a pocket-type conveyor or drag chain. Thus, in the in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> illustrated embodiment, the Article 4 passed directly from the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 of each tray 21 of the conveyor belt 20th The items to be Article 4 are passed between the first belt 15 and second belt 16 of the feeding unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 out to the sides and through the corresponding movement of the first volume 15 and the second belt 16 to the conveyor belt 20th The Article 4 in the feed unit 11, located 12, 13 and 14 abutting.

p0026<figref idrefs="f0003"><b>figure 3</b></figref> shows a further embodiment of the arrangement of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 with respect to the conveyor belt 20. In the embodiment shown here, four feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided which are coupled via a transfer chain 24 to the conveyor belt 20 , The transfer chain 24 has also formed compartments, in which the items to be Article 4 are introduced from the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14th Each of the feeding units 11, 12, 13 and 14 is provided for a particular type of product or a beverage container. By means of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 may therefore be appropriate bars 32 of a type of article 4 passed to the conveyor 20th After the conveyor belt 20 has passed through the transfer points of Article 4 of the conveyor belt 20, is located in the conveyor belt 20 before a series of articles 4, whose clocks are different with respect to the product type. The length of the bars ultimately depends on the selected sorting scheme. Depending on the selected organization by the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 are controlled so that, ultimately, on the conveyor belt 20, the required number of training is prepared to ultimately on the grouping table 6 to form the necessary streets, before the products are passed to the processing unit 2 ,

p0027<figref idrefs="f0004"><b>figure 4</b></figref> shows a preferred embodiment, with the Articles 4 to pass from the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 to the conveyor belt 20th To enable continuous and fast transfer of Article 4 of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 to the conveyor belt 20, it is recommended between the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the conveyor belt 20 to provide a handover chain 24th The transport direction T._Z the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 is in relation to the transport direction T._T of the conveyor belt 20 is arranged at an angle α. As noted in the description for<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> mentioned at each feeding unit 11, 12, 13 and 14, a first strip 15 and a second band 16 is provided on both sides of the transported item 4, by means of the individual items 4 the transfer chain 24 supplied. The transfer chain 24 is designed analogously to the conveyor belt 20 as a paddle chain. Of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14, Article 4 in accordance with the desired sorting scheme or according to the commands from the control unit 30 are supplied in individual pockets or compartments 21 of the transfer chain 24th When in<figref idrefs="f0004">figure 4</figref> Shown is obtained by means of the transfer chain 24 a total transition from the transport direction T._Z the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 and the transport direction T_T of the conveyor belt 20. The transfer chain 24 is disposed such that one end 26 of the transfer chain 24 which the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 is opposed substantially in the direction of transport T_Z the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 aligned. The other end 28 of the transfer chain 24, which is opposite to the conveyor belt 20 is substantially corresponding to the transport direction T._T of the conveyor belt 20 are aligned. This special arrangement of the transfer belt 24 is thus obtained a trouble-free infeed of Article 4 of the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 in the conveyor belt 20th

p0028To ensure high performance of the device that Article 4 must be passed by the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 at an appropriate speed to the continuously running conveyor 20th To avoid damage to the Article 4, it is advantageous to provide a gradual transition from the transport direction T._Z the feed unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 to the transport direction T._T the conveyor belt 20 to provide. This is mainly due to the transfer chain 24, as in<figref idrefs="f0004">figure 4</figref> shown, are possible. By the transfer chain 24, a smooth transition from the feed units 11, 12, 13 and 14 is thus made possible to the conveyor belt 20th Depending on the sorting scheme of the feeding units 11, 12, 13 and 14 Article 4 of the type in the form of bars 32 to pass to the conveyor 20th

p0029The grading scheme, under which the individual article types are passed to the conveyor belt 20 is dictated by the control unit 30th According to the specification, as already mentioned, the supply units 11, 12, 13 and 14 are controlled. Articles 4 to pass from the supply unit 11, 12, 13 and 14 respectively with an interposed transfer chain 24 of each tray 21 in the transport chain. Each compartment 21 of the transport chain contains an article 4. In accordance with the predetermined sorting scheme can also clocks 32 of articles 4 are transferred to the conveyor belt 20th The conveyor belt 20 is a linear conveyor belt 20, so that after all the feed units 11, have 12, 13 and 14 Articles 4 and the bars 32 of Articles 4 passed to the conveyor belt 20, the conveyor belt 20 a series of articles 4 is present. The number of bars 32 and Articles 4 is supplied to a grouping table. 6 By grouping table 6 is necessary for the further processing unit sorting schema is generated from the clocking 32nd

p0030The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.